IT was a cold July weekend as the ilyo team prepared for competition at the ACT Cool Climate Classic.

Ilyo Tilba teamed up with its sister club ilyo Barossa from South Australia to form a formidable force at the competition on July 12 and 13.

Ashleigh Knights second Dan black belt was first up on Saturday night against a strong competitor from Melbourne. A gutsy but long bout followed with Ashleigh going down 9-1 earning a silver medal.

A chilly Sunday morning welcomed the rest of the team.

Zayd Cooper, blue belt three stripe was up first in a high scoring match. Zayd managed to get 22 points against his opponents 32, a bit more work on defence and I think he will be in for a win soon.

Zayd was rewarded a bronze unfortunately not making the final. Carissa Woods also blue three from the Barossa came next with a good bout, winning 15-0 getting her into a final in which she won gold 11-5.

Genna Lewis, black belt second Dan had us all on edge waiting until the last moment to even the score.

This took the match to a golden point in which you have one and a half minutes, the first point scorer wins. She won carrying on to the final where exactly the same happened. It ended well with a gold medal in her pocket.

Bethany Partridge blue belt three fought well taking the match to the golden point as well. Behany scored first to get the gold.

Bradley O’Sullivan also came to compete but we were unable to find him an even bout.

Well done ilyo on three gold, one silver and one bronze in Canberra.

The next competition is the NSW state selections in Sydney on August 10 in which Zayd, Bethany and Bradley will be competing to try a secure a place on the NSW state team. We wish you all the best.